At CMFTO, we’re often asked, “What should I do with my family members’ toys and collectibles?”

This is an area with a lot of nuance, so no single answer applies. However, there are certain criteria that typically have to be met before a toy or collectible is considered valuable, including:

• The item’s condition (How worn is it?)

If you’re like us, you probably have a drawer filled with miscellaneous paper goods that will be just right to use…some day. But with Facebook birthday wishes being the new norm, we’re sending less “snail mail” every year.

This week we’re focusing on the kitchen counter, along with that one catch-all drawer we all have. (Spoiler alert: It can be your secret weapon!)

The kitchen is the nerve center of the home, where we gather, make meals, do homework, pay bills, and more — especially these days.

We all have them: boxes of photos from the time before we all had camera phones, along with shelves of photo albums we created or inherited. So, what do we do with all those pictures?

Earlier today, Carrie McCormick, an @properties Luxury Broker in Chicago, interviewed Claudia to discuss top tips on what you can do to prepare your home for market, before you need to list it.